Death of a Mother Parent / Photo Tribute to Our Mom

My mother, age 83, passed away from a heart attack yesterday,  Saturday, January 8.   The last time my brother and I saw her was the Monday before she died.  Originally, he had not planned to be in Orlando that weekend and our family had tentatively planned to be in Houston for a wedding.  We are SO glad that our plans changed and that we were both here with her the last week of her life.  We had set up aides, nurses, home health, a cleaning lady, etc. and she was quite happy that entire week knowing that she was loved and well cared for.  For that, we are grateful.

Here is a photo tribute to her.

2Cor. 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

Mary Frances O'Hara Baker Reese

April 10, 1927 - January 8, 2011

Miss Augusta, about 1945

1952

  

                                                                 

1971

2003--The last Christmas with our Dad

              2004                                                                    2008

The last photos taken of Mom over the 2010 Christmas

and New Year's holidays...

December 25, 2010

December 30, 2010

December 31, 2010

Her children

My brother and me

Her grandchildren

(my brother's two sons)

and 

My two sons

Her great-grandchildren

(my nephew's two children)

We loved you very much, Mom, and miss you.

OBITUARY in the Augusta Chronicle (written by my brother):

Mary Frances O’Hara Baker Reese, 83, passed peacefully at her home in Winter Park, FL, on January 8, 2011.  Born Mary Frances O’Hara, in Augusta, GA, on April 10, 1927, she was raised and eventually married during the first half of her life there.  She raised two children, Tonya and John (Art), who gifted her with four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren whom she loved and cherished dearly.  Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Rosalie, brothers Charles and Jack, sister Ora Lou, and her husband John Arthur Baker, Jr.  She is survived by a younger sister and brother, Betty Lee Standard and Jerry P. O’Hara.  Though never a player, Mary loved to watch golf, in person or on TV.  Her favorite players of all time were Jack Nicholas and Arnold Palmer.  Growing up in Augusta afforded her several opportunities to enjoy attending the Masters Tournament, always having a grand time.  Mary was an independent, outgoing woman, a warm loving mother, the life of the party, friend to many, dedicated to her family and a loving wife.  She was an incredible cook with many published Southern recipes, preparing such notable dishes as her crispy iron skillet fried chicken, pineapple upside down cake, black-eyed peas and stewed sweet tomatoes, her notorious holiday green Jell-O and without a doubt the most tasty Georgia pecan pie ever created in a kitchen.  Though she lived the last half of her full life in Central Florida, she was never far from her deep roots to family in Augusta.  Her final wish was to be laid to rest back home and thus the family will hold an intimate ceremony to celebrate Mary’s life on earth and transition to eternal life with God the Father.  A funeral mass will be held on Friday, February 25, 2011, 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church with interment to follow at Westover Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Poteet Funeral Home in Augusta, GA.

      

Added 4.9.14:

Giving Thanks 2010 Revisiting 2009 and Continuing / Thanksgiving

A review of my 2009 blog

4. I am thankful for the gift of my parents who adopted me when I was an infant (2 days old).

1958--I am 3, my brother is 1

1971--my 16th birthday party

Mom in 1952 on her honeymoon and in 2005

2004--Our last Christmas with my dad before he died

2006--Mom, my brother and me 

2009--Mom and her first great-grandchild

Exodus 20:12

Honor your father and mother that your days may be prolonged 

in the land which the Lord your God gives you.

Long Day, Elderly Parent Decisions

It's been a long day.  My brother is still here visiting and today's the day we decided to go together with my mother (82 years) to visit her doctor.  She is approaching the stage of life where it looks to us like she may need some assistance in cleaning her apartment, getting transportation (she actually drives her car still even though we feel it may be unsafe), paying her bills, managing her finances, etc.   My brother, my only sibling, lives in Texas and I'm the one here, so we have to divide up what we can each do. He is very generous and takes care of most financial payments of things that she needs; I will need to pick up many of the day-to-day decisions, some of the driving, etc.   We have already determined that she cannot live with our family.

This is a familiar road for our family and thankfully, we have had an almost 5-year break from this type of situation after my husband's mother (96) and my father (84) both died in 2005.  My husband's mother lived with us for her final  two years which was very hard on my children and me. My husband was at work of course, so he missed much of the day-to-day frustration.  My dad lived in the same city as us for four years but without a car, so I took him just about everywhere he couldn't walk to nearby.   I have also managed the finances of several of my husband's elderly relatives over the years, grocery shopped for them and other errands, gathered all the paperwork for Medicaid and military insurance, qualifying income trusts, living trusts, wills, attorney visits,  etc.    I definitely have learned a lot about elder care and many options that are out there.  I wish I could say I had a wonderful servant's attitude for all this, but that was not always the case. We all got through those times and have been so grateful to have a reprieve for the last few years.  

Now, it looks as though it is my mom's turn.  Our relationship has almost always been strained at best, but better over the last few years.  I have to pray and remember during these next few weeks, especially, that:

I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)